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Monday, November 20, 2006
Robbers dig tunnel, burglarize bazaar
By Ernie N. Olson Jr.
BAGUIO CITY -- Tiong San Bazaar, one of the oldest business establishments in Baguio, was broken into and robbed of cash and merchandise anytime between closing time on Saturday and opening time on Sunday, police said.
Police said the robbers broke into the bazaar by passing through the city's main drainage canal, which stretched underneath the entire length of Upper Magsaysay Avenue, and digging a tunnel from there to the main floor of the establishment.
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Employees reporting for work at 9:30 a.m. Sunday discovered the robbery, a report to Senior Superintendent Moises Guevarra, officer-in-charge of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), said.
Although the concrete floor of the bazaar was almost a foot thick, the robbers smashed it to gain entry. The assigned security guard posted outside reportedly was not able to hear the burglars breaking into the place.
A police source said the actual worth of cash and valuables stolen could be millions of pesos and could make this incident "the biggest heist reported in the history of Baguio."
Aside from a variety of jewelry and wristwatches that were still being inventoried as of Sunday, the amount of cash and items immediately discovered to have been stolen was estimated at P403,579.50.
Police said that upon entering the place through the hole in the concrete floor, the perpetrators reportedly opened the bazaar's vault by burning its door open with the use of an acetylene torch.
After also detaching and forcibly opening three cash registers located in both the main and second floors of the bazaar, an estimated P21,000 in cash was carted away.
Aside from the assortment of jewelry and wristwatches, other items found stolen were 100 pairs of Levi's denim jeans, 18 denim jackets, and 10 polo shirts.
Policemen who responded to the site recovered an acetylene torch and hose, a small Super Kalan liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tank, two crowbars, one improvised crowbar, a tortion bar, a sledge hammer, two hand drills with attached bits, two other improvised hand drills, a big screwdriver, an adjustable wrench, a shovel without any handle, a backpack, a pair of faded denim jeans, a ballcap, and a green flashlight. (Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (November 20, 2006 issue)
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